Address printing and calculating machine



Sept. 13, 1932. K E-LL 1,876,970

ADDRESS PRINTING AND CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 13, 1932. J KRELL 1,876,970

ADDRESS PRINTING AND CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 33456189 1 23456789 1Z34-5 6l82 h M'ller Sept. 13, 1932.

J.KRELL ADDRESS PRINTING AND Filed Dec. 21 1929 s Sheets-Sheet f/QJZ I Patented Sept. 13, 1 .932

UNITED STATES PATENT] OFFICE JOSEPH KRELL, OF BERLIN-ZEHLENDORF, GERMANY ADDRESS PRINTING AND Application filed December 21, 1929, Serial No.

My invention relates to a combined addressprinting and calculating machine, and it is an object of my invention to improve a machine of this type.

To this end I combine with the printing machine a normal calculating machine, i. e., a machine having the usual keys, etc., and a selector under the control of the printing plates for operating the calculating machine. It has already been proposed to employ address-printing machines for making up accounts o r other documents by means of their printing plates which are provided with types for printing the amounts of the account. Instead of adding these amounts by hand or on a calculating machine, which is tedious and may cause mistakes, it has already been proposed to build a calculating machine into the printing machine and to operate the calculating machine through the medium of the printing plates. This solution has the drawback that the machine becomes too complicated by the built-in calculating machine.-

The drawback of over-complication is eliminated in my invention by conserving the calculating machine as an which is operated by electrical or mechanical means.

It is another object of my invention to improve the printing plates, and 'to this end, instead of providing holes for operating the calculating machine within the space for the matter tobe printed, as in the machine referred to, I arrange the means for operating the calculating machine which may be slots or projections, near the edge, or edges, of the printing plates where they will not interfere with the printed matter nor with the means (if any) for controlling the printing mechanism which are also provided on the plates.

It is still another object of my invention to provide improved means for operating the calculating machine. To this end, I rovide a system of switches and circuits w ich independent unit CALCULATING MACHINE 415,703, and in Germany December 22, 1928.

will be referred to as the selector, since it is controlled selectively by the printing plates in conformity with the notches or other means near the edge, or edges, of the printing plates. Each circuit of the selector contains an electromagnet which when excited attracts its armature and places it in active position with respect to the key bar of the calculating machine allotted to the respective numeral on the printing plate.

In machines having the usual skipping device for dividing the printing plates into groups which are printed and groups which are not printed, that is, skipped, it is important that the multiple switch for, the skipno ping device should be arranged at another point of the track for the printing plates than the selector.

In the accompanying drawings, a machine embodying my invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of the complete machine,

Fig. 2 is a diagram of its connections, 10

Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofa ratchet wheel forming part of the selector, viewed from the left in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a part radial section of the wheel, drawn to a larger scale Fig. 5 is a part elevation showing the selector switch in another position than in Fig. 2, e 0

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations, on a larger scale, of themean's'for operating the type bars of the calculating machine, in inactive and active position, respectively,

gig. 8 is an elevation of a printing plate, an

Fig. 9 is a diagram of connections for the 35 "selector contacts and the keys of the calculating machine.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, A is the printing machine, B is the selector, and G is the calculating machine. The

ratchet i are dropped into a suitable receptacle, not

shown, 6 is a push-button board for operating the multiple switch of the skipping device, and 7 is an electromagnet, of known type, which is actuated by projections on the lower face of the printing plates, and, when energized, causes the plate which at the printing station 8, to be printed. The selector B is arranged at the point which is attained by a plate printed at the station 8 after the third cycle of operations. The calculating machine C is of the usual type and may be equipped with a handle or a motor for operation. The machine is designed for adding figures having not more than six numerals but obviously it may be designed for any other number. The keys of the machine C are arranged in six vertical rows 9 at nine each, without zero keys. 10 is the actuating key of the machine.

Referring now to the diagram of connections, Fig. 2, my machine is equipped with the following operating mechanisms and circuits:

The circuit 12 of the magnet 7 .and the push-button board 6, with a contact 13 under the control of the printing arm 1;

A circuit 16 which is controlled by the armature 14 of the magnet 7, a contact 15 on the armature 14, and an electromagnet 17 with an armature 18 in the circuit 16;

A ratchet wheel 30 on a pin 32, a push bar 37 with a pawl 38 for feeding the ratchet wheel which bar is actuated from the feeding-mechanism for the printing plates 11 by a rod 39 and suitable mechanism, not shown, a set of pins 31 fitted to slide in the wheel 30 under the control of the armature 18, and a cam 51, Figs. 3 and 4;

A hook 28 which is operated by the pins 31;

A switching frame 21 in the selector B which is reciprocated vertically under the action of a cable 41 attached to the push bar 37, and pull-back springs 25, with contacts 22 and fingers 23 which are adapted to penetrate slots 24 in the printing plates 11, and apin 52 adapted to be engaged by the hook 28;

Circuits 26, each under the control of one of the contacts 22 'of the frame 21, and each with a magnet 27. on a movable plate 43 of the calculating machine C and an armature 45 for each magnet which when attracted, operates one of the key bars 44, Figs.' 6 and 7 A circuit 49 with a switch 50 under the control of the frame 21, and a magnet, or palr of magnets, as shown, 48, for moving the plate 43 into its lower final position,

Fig. 7.

Fig. 2 shows four printing plates 11, the plate 11 being at the printing station 8, and the plate 11" being in position 'above the selector B.

The plate 11" is supposed to have been printed when it was at the printing station 8, that is, it is not one of'the plates that are skipped. The plate 11 is also supposed to be printed at the station 8, as soon asthe printing arm 1 descends. As soon as the printing plate 11 has arrivedat the station 8, the circuit 12 of the electromagnet 7 has been closed at the contact 13. The electromagnet 7 now attracts its armature 14 which causes the printing head on the printing arm 1 to be operated and to close the contact of the circuit 16.' The electromagnet 17 in this circuit is now excited and attracts its armature 18 which a spring 19 tends to move in the direction 20 when the magnet 17 is not,

excited.

The armature 18 cooperates with the pins 31 in the ratchet wheel 30 which is rotated for one pitch during each feeding movement of the printing plates by the bar 37 which may be connected with, or be part of, the rod 39, and by a pawl 38 at the end of the bar. The rod 39 extends along the track 3 of the printing plates 11 and is moved for the length of a plate as often as one of the plates is fed forward.

The number of the pins 31 in the ratchet Wheel30 is equal to the number of its teeth. The pins are fitted to be displaced in parallel relation with the axis of the pin. 32 about which the wheel rotates and are grooved at 34 and 34, 33 bein a spring catch adapted to engage in one of the grooves, Fig. 4, the position in which the groove 34 is engaged being termed the inactive position for reasons which will presently appear. In this position the ends 31' of the pins project from the rear face of the wheel 32 but are without the reach of the armature l8while it is not attracted. When the electroinagnet 17 is excited upon the printing of one of the plates 11 it attractsthe armature in the direction 35, Fig. 4, moving the pin which is opposite it, in the direction 35, Fig. 4, into the active pin 52.

The switching frame 21 of the selector B i arrive at 11",

- hook 28, and

has as many contacts 22 as corresponds to the maximum figure within the range of the machine. In the present instance, the frame 21 has 6 times 9 or 54 contacts 22. Three of the contacts 22 are shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Each contact has a rocking arm 22' which is 11]: crumed on the frame 21, with a finger 23 and a pull-back spring 25. The springs 25 hold the fingers 23 engaged with the lower faces of the printing plates 11 as they move past the selector B. 24, Fig. 8, are slots near the edges of the plates 11 which are adapted to be entered by the fingers 23. The numerals from one to nine are inscribed along both edges of each plate, six times in all, from units to hundred-thousands. The slots 24 are arranged in the several plates so as to represent the figure to be printed with the persons address, in the present instance, 578365. This requires siX slots 24 in the positions illustrated.

When the switching frame 21 has been released by the hook 28 as shown in Fig. 2, the springs 25 pull it up and those fingers 23 which register with slots 24 inthe plate pass freely so that the contacts 22 remain closed while the fingers of the other contacts 22 strike the face of the plate and their contacts are opened. Each contact controls a calculating-machine operating circuit 26, with its electroma net 27.

As only those gures must be registered by the calculating machine which have been printed, the selector B must operate only for the plates that have been printed when they and not by those that have Through the medium of the the parts cooperating with it, the frame 21, after having been lowered by the bar 37 and the cable 41, is intercepted by the hook 28 and held in the piston, Fig. 5, until a plate that has been printed, arrives at 11. When a'plate is printed at the station 8, as described, the magnet 17 is excited and its armature 18 moves one of the pins 31 into the active position 31". As described, the ratchet wheel 32 is moved for one of its teeth as often as the printing arm 1 is rocked,

been skipped.

as indicated by the arrow 36. The pin 31' that has been engaged by the armature 18, is in the position 31" in Fig. 2, and will get into operative relation with the hook 28 when the plate that has been printed arrives above the selector at 11' The hook is engaged by the pin just before the completion of each partial rotation of the ratchet wheel 30. Obviously, a 'pin that has not been engaged by the armature 18 moves-past the hook without engaging it.

It will appear from Fig, 2 that the pin 31 gets into operative position with respect to the hook 28 when the plate 11' which has been printed at 11' gets into the position 11" above turned against its spring 29 and releases the the selector B. The hook 28 is now frame 21, which, through the medium of its contacts 22, closes the circuits 26 WhlCh correspond to the figure printed by the plate at 8. In Fig. 2, it' has been assumed that the plate shown at 11"has been printed at 8 and that, at the moment when the feeding movement of the plates has been completed, the hook 28 has released the frame 21 permitting it to close the corresponding contacts 22 for the figure on the plate. In Fig. 9 the keys which will be operated for the figure 578365 are sectioned, and the corresponding contacts 22 are indicated by solid black areas.

Upon the return movement of the bar 37 the frame 21 is returned into its initial position by the cable 41 and the hook 28 which has been released by the pin 31", engages the pin 52 and holds Fig. 5. The cam 51 returns those pins 31, that have been displaced, into inactive position.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the plate 43 is fitted to reciprocate on the calculating machine above its keys 42 and equipped with a bar 44 for each key. ne of the pawls or the frame in the positionarmatures 45 is allottedto each key bar 44,

and adapted to be attracted by the corresponding magnet 27 in the circuit 26. v When one of the magnets 27 is excited it attracts its armature 45, causing a check 45' to move into position above the corresponding type bar 44. The plate 43 is normally held in its uppermost position by springs 46 and is pulled down by the comparatively strong electromagnets 48. When the "plate 43 descends those key bars the magnets 27 of which have not attracted their armatures 45 are free to slide with respect to the plate 43 as it descends while those bars 44 the armatures of which have been attracted move with the plate 43 and in turn depress'their bars 44. The aircuit 49 of the magnets 48 is closed by the switch 50 against the action of a spring 53.

when the frame 21 is raised, Fig. 2, and the spring 53 is free to open the circuit when the frame 21 descends, Fig. 5. The switch 50 is operated just after the contacts 22 the fingers of which are free to enter the slots 24, have been closed.

Mechanical instead of electrical means.

might be provided for operating the plate 43.

The actuatlng key 10 of the calculating machine may be depressed by the descending plate 43, as shown in Fig. 2, which, in the manner usual in calculating machines, causes the machine to be operated. If desired, how ever, a separate circuit, not shown, might be provided for operating the key 10, with an electromagnet by which the key is depressed. The circult would be closed from the machine A or from the plate43 when it assumes its lowermost position.

The operation of my machine is as follows: I

The plates 11 which may be'provided with projections, not shown, for operating the I machine in the usual way and printed or skipped at 8. When a plate is printed at 8, the contact 15 closes and the electromagnet 17 is excited. The magnet, by attracting its armature 18, moves the pin 31 in the ratchet wheel which is opposite the armature, into the active position 31". After three cycles the printed plate advances into the position 11" while at the same time the ratchet wheel 30 is fed for three pitches from the feeding means of the plates 11, through the bar 37. At the moment when the printed plate arrives at 11" the frame 21 of the se lector B is released by the pin 31 throwing out the hook 28 and the contacts 22 start to operate under .the control of their fingers 23. Of the 54 contacts 22 those corresponding to the figure to be printed are closed, in the present instance, the contacts corresponding to the figure 57 8365,.' as shown in Fig. 9. This causes the circuits 26 of the operated contacts 22 to be closedand the electromagnets 27 to be excited. The electromagnets attract their armatures 45 which through the bars 44 operate the keys 42. After these electromagnets have been excited the circuit 49 of the magnets 48is closed and the plate 43 descends. The keys 42 are depressed by the armatures 45 which have been attracted and at the same time, or shortly after the plate 43 has descended, the actuating key 10 is depressed to start the calculating machine. The machine now adds the figure to the figures already in the machine. Thereupon the switch 50 is opened to break the circuit 49 of the electromagnets 48, and the plate 43 is returned to its uppermost position by the springs 46. The keys of the calculating machine return into theirinitial position. At the same time the frame 21 of the selector B returns into the position Fig, 5 in which it is arrested by the hook 28.

'lihe machine is now" ready for another cyc c.

It is understood that I am not limited to any of the details shown and described by way of example. For instance, the slots 24 in the plates 11 might be replaced by projections or other parts, and the calculating machine C might be operated by mechanical instead of electrical means, without departing. from the spirit of my'invention.

I claim:

1. A combined address-printing and calculating machine comprising aprinting and a calculating unit, the latter unit with operating mechanism of any usual type, a selector adapted to be controlled by the printing plates of said printing unit, contacts in said selector, a circuit connected with each contact, an electromagnet in each circuit, and means connected with said electromagnet for operating said calculating machine.

rotated by said feeding means, pins mounted to slide in said wheel, an electromagnet under the control of said printing unit and adapted to. displace said pins from aninitial position, a switching frame in said selector, contacts on said frame, means adapted to be released by said pins for holding said frame in inactive position with respect to said printing plates, and means under the control of said contacts for operating machine.

3. A combined address-printing and calculating machine comprising a pr nting and a calculating unit, the latter unit with operating mechanism of any usual type, a selector adapted to be controlled by the printing plates of said printing unit, means for feeding said plates, a ratchet wheel adapted to be rotated by said feeding means, pins mounted to slide in said wheel, an electromagnet under the control of said printing unit and adapted to displace said pins from an initial position, means for yieldingly holding said pins in their initial and displaced positions, a cam for returning said ins into their initial position, a switching tacts on said frame, means adapted to be released by said pins for holding said frame in inactive position with respect to said printing plates, and means under the control of saldcontacts for operating said calculating machine. I,

4'. A combined address-printing and calculating machine comprising a printing and a'calculating unit, the latter unit with oper ating mechanism of any usual type, a switching frame, means for reciprocating said switching frame in time with the operation of said printing unit, contacts on said frame, a feeler on each contact adapted to cooperate with means on the printing plates of said printing unit, said means being adapted to leave closed those contacts the feelers of which cooperate with said means, and means under the control of said contacts for operating said calculating machine.

5. A combined address-printin and calculating machine comprising a printing and a calculating unit, a set *of keys in said calculating unit, a reciprocating plate in said calculating unit, a selector adapted to be controlled by the printing plates of said printing unit, means under the control of said selector for reciprocating said plate, a set of key bars in said plate adapted to cooperate with said-keys, and means, also under the against movement with respect to saidplate.

said calculating 6. A combined address-printing and calculating machine comprisini a pnntini and a. calculating unit, a set of eys in sai cal- I culating unit, a reciprocating plate in said calculating unit,a selector adapted to be controlled by the printing plates of said printing unit, an electromagnet for operating said plate, a circuit connected withsaidelectrjoma et, a switch operatively connected with sai selector to make and break said circuit, and means on said plate,- lso under the con:

trol of said selector, for operating said keys In testimony whereof I aflix my si%ature.

JOSEPH KR LL. 

